2018 Volume 14 Pages 29-46
Objective：The objective of this study was to identify approaches to address the safety of patients and health practitioners, as well as the challenges that occurred during the heavy snow disaster in February 2014 at hospitals in A Prefecture.
Methods：A survey of the safety managers at all hospitals in A Prefecture was conducted to assess their steps for securing the patients and staff safety before and during the snow disaster using self-administered anonymous questionnaires.
Results：Responses were obtained from 38% （23 of 60） of the hospitals. About 90% of these hospitals contained fewer than 300 beds and 70% had fewer than 300 staff members. Of the safety managers, 4 （17%） worked full-time as a safety manager, 4 （17%） worked predominantly as safety manager but had some other duties, and 9 （39%） worked concurrently for other duties. All the safety managers that worked full-time were nurses. It was revealed that many hospitals started taking steps for medical safety management at the initial disaster stage in the jurisdictions of A, C, and D Health Centers, while few hospitals took advance preparation in B City and in the jurisdiction of C Health Center. The study revealed approaches at each disaster stage include “advance preparation,” “approaches for securing medical systems in an emergency,” “approaches for stabilizing medical systems,” “approaches for establishing measures against snow damage,” and “collaboration between hospitals and local communities during the snow disaster.”
Conclusion：The study identified challenges of individual regions, interventions of cross-sectoral activities by safety managers during the disaster, and the approaches for securing in-hospital safety.
